Thermostatic oil-control valve



THERMO'STATIC OIL CONTROL VALVE Filedv Oct. 8 1928 Y i* fm /fhdffdf Patented Oct. 29, 1929 .UNITE-1D' 4s'rmfas JACOB T. LANDGRAF, F vlllllACOIMZB, 'IIJLIN'OI ASSIGNCR "IO AMERICAN :SLEEL PRODUCTS C0., 0F MACOMB, .ILSEIINOIS, A iCORPORATION rOIF ILIJINOIS THEBMOSTATIC OIL-CONTROL 'VALVE Application led October, 1928. Serial No. 310,937.

My invention relates'to thermally responsive valves for controlling a iOWOliquid, its general objects being those of providingan easily adjusted and non-clogging valve which will aii'ord a tight shut-off without sticking,A

l '16 my invention aims t0 overcome many of the dificulties encountered with automaticcontrol valves heretofore employed 1n connection with such oil burners. More particularly,v

my invention aims to provide a thermostatic valve having these desirable characteristics.:

(1) Intensifying the closing pressure through a lever, so as to insure a irm closure in spite of the pressure under which the oil or other liquid is supplied.

(2) An enclosed and easily assembled leverage arrangement for this purpose.

(3) -An eective housing of this lever mechanism against dust.

(4) A positive opening of the valve when the thermally expansible member is cool, so as to prevent its sticking.

(5) An exposed mounting of the thermally expansible member and of the adjustment for controlling the temperature at which the valve closes. j

(6) A simple, accessible and adjustable stop for limiting vthe movement of the valve member in both directions. f

(7) A disposition of the valve parts Whereby the flow of liquid will flush any solid particles oil `the enclosed portions'of the mechanism and out of the valve casing.

(8) Convenient inspection of the normally housed lever mechanism.

Still further and also more detailed objects will appear from the following specification and from the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a side elevation of a thermostatic oil valve embodying .my invention, taken from the left side of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged central and vertical section through ythe same, with the 'parts in their normal position 'for permitting the flow of oil through the'valve casing.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. A

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section, taken valong the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is -a perspective view of the lever of the valve.

Fig. 6 is a reduced perspective view of the stop bracket.

In the illustrated embodiment, ymy thermostatic Valvelias as` its body a casing 1 of inverted L shape with an inlet opening 2vat its top and an outlet 3 .at its bottom. Threaded into the inlet opening is a nipple/i 'to which the oil supply pipe 5 is attached, and this nipp-le has a medial portion of its bore contracted to afford a tapering seat 6 through which the corresponding tapered tip ofthe Avalve. stem 7 projects upwardly. This valve stem (or closure member) has a lower porj tion extendingA through a vertical perforation 8 in a lever 9, which lever is pivoted by a screw 10 to a pivoting arm 11 projecting from one side of the valve casing toward the opposite side of the casing. The levert) has a pair of notches 9A in its upper face, which notches afford seats for a pin 12 which extends transversely through. the valve stem 7 ,'andalight compression springl is interposed between the pin 12 and the shoulder'li aii'orded by the contraction of the bore'oi the inlet.

Extending upwardly and slidably into the horizontal arm-of the inverted L-shaped casing through a bore 15 is a plunger 16, while an exterior bracket arm 17 projects from a lower portion of the casing and is intercepted by the axis of the plunger 16. Threaded upwardly through this bracket arm 17 is an adjusting screw 18 which desirably is fitted vwith a locknut 19. This adjusting screw supports uaagsss kits can yield in case the expansion of the member 20 distorts its upper face out of axial alinement with the plunger.

With the parts thus arranged and with the plunger of .such a length that the free end portion .of the'lever 9 rests on the upper end of the plunger, the Weight of the lever continually tends to swing the lever downward and the upper spring 13 positively causes the valve stem 7 to follow the lever. Consequently, with a suitable adjustment of the adjusting screw 18, the parts are normally in the positions shown in Fig. 2 when the thermostatic wafers 20 are cool; namely, with thevalve stem 7 depressed so asto permit oil to flow past its tapering tip into the valve casing l and out through the feed pipe 21.

When the temperature around the wafers 20rises suiiiciently to vaporize their ether content, the resulting internal pressure` expands the wafers and raises the plunger 16, thereby raising the lever and the valve stem. Duringvthis action, the upper spring 13 resists the raising of the lever and valve stein, untilsuicient pressure has built up within the wafers, thus preventing the valve from closing with'fa `slam which might jam the valve stem-in its tapering seat. However, even aslow closing of the valve might eiect such. a jamming-with an unduly high pressure' exerted by the wafers, since' the effec-` tive pressure is multiplied at the valve kseat through the Aleverage of my valve mechanism. Toavoid this, I provide stop means for limit; ing the upward movement of the plunger, and desirably also arrange these stop means so that they will limit the downward movement ofthe plunger and hence the valve stem.

`.As a convenient stop arrangement for these purposes, I provide the plunger 16 with a portion 16A of reduced diameter extending slidably through a lateral notch 27- the horizontal arm 23 of an elbow-shaped stop bracket, which brackethas its vertical arm 23A fastened to one end of t-he valve casing by a screw- 24.' This screw 24l extends through a vertical slot 25 in the bracket arm 23A, so

that the stopbracket can be raisedor lowered when the screw 2'4 is slightly relaxed. With the screw 24 tightened, the plunger 16 can move downward only until the upper face of the stop bracket arm 23 isengaged by the shoulder 16B at-'the upper end of the contracted plunger portion 16A. Likewise, a companion shoulder 16C at the lower end of this contracted plunger portion is disposed for engaging the bottom of thestop bracket arm'23 to limit the upward movement of the plunger as eifected by the expansion of the wafer 20.

However, the gripl of the screw 24, while ample for rigidly clamping the stop bracket to resist the weight of the plunger and the action of the light upper spring 13, might not be ample for positively resisting the upward thrust due to the expansion of the thermostatic wafer or wafers. Hence I desirably supplement the latching effect of the screw 24 by auxiliary means for positively resisting anv upward movement of the stop bracket, such as a stop screw 28 threaded upwardly through the stop bracket arm 23 and'engaging the bottom of the overhanging casing portion.l v

When my thermostatic valve is in use in its illustrated position, the oil flows downwardly through it and enters the casing through .the downwardly Haring valve seat, so that possible impurities in the oil will not tend to clog the valve. Likewise, by providing the outlet at the bottom of the casing and desirably contracting the bore of the lower casing arm toward the outlet (as shownin Fig. 2), I cause any sediment to be flushed out readily.

To permit a convenient inserting of the lever 9, I provide the casing with a door 29 at the side toward which the rigid pivoting arm 11 extends, this door being normally held closed by a screw 30. The opening of this door permits a ready inspection of the mechanism and also affords access to the pivoting screw 10, so that the lever and valve stem can be removed and even replaced if desired. Likewise,the nipple 4 can yeasily be removed and replaced, andthe immersion of the lever mechanism in the oil insures its ample lubrication and frictionless o eration. p terior-mounting of the ad] ustable'stop bracket, which is shown separately in Fig. 6, permits a convenient adjusting of the position of this bracket, while a retraction of the lscrew 18 allows a ready removal and replacing of the thermostatic wafer when desired.

The lex- (consisting of the casing 1 and the nipple 4 in which the valve seat is formed) and extending the plunger slidably upward into the horizontal portion of this housing, I can readily dispose the lever so as to Secure a considerable leverage in a compact construction. And by disposing the outlet at the bottom of the stem of thc inverted L-shaped housing, I permit the liquid to drain freely out of the housing when the "valve is closed, thereby preventing any impurities from settling in the housing.

However, while I have heretofore described my valve as used in a position in which the liquid flows downwardly, I do not wish to be limited in this respect and also do not wish to be limited to the use of my valve wit-h any `particular liquid or other fluid.

of the construction and arrangement here disclosed, since changes might obviously be made Without departing either from the spirit of my invent-ion or from the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: 1. A thermostatic valve comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet, a valve mechanism movably mounted in the casing and adapted to close the inlet, a plunger extending slidably into the casing and engaging a portion of the valve mechanism, a therinostatic member supported by the casing in alinement With the plunger and engaging the latter, an outer arm on the casing extending across the axis of the plunger, a screw threaded through the arm in alinement with the plunger, and a thermally eXpansible member interposed between the screw and the plunger.

2. A thermostatic valve comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet, a valve mechanism within the casing and adapted to close the inlet, the said mechanism including a lever, a stop member mounted on the exterior of the casing, a plunger extending through the stop member into the casing and engaging the lever, a thermally expansible member disposed between the outer end of the plunger and an exterior portion of the casing, the plunger having shoulders disposed for engaging the stop member to limit the movement of the plunger in both directions longitudinally of the plunger.

3. A thermostatic iuid control valve comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet, a valve member movably disposed Within 4the casing and adapted to close the inlet, a plunger extending slidably into the casing; a lever pivoted Within the casing and operatively interposed between the plunger and the valve member, thermally expansible means supported externally of the casing and so disposed with respect to the plunger that a risc in temperature will cause the said means to move the plunger in the inlet closing direction, and a spring associated With the valve member, the spring continuously urging the valve member in its inlet-opening direction and also operating through the lever and plunger to resist expansion of the thermally expansible member.

el.' A thermostatic valve as per claim 3, in which the plunger is upright and above .the thermally expansible member so that the Weight of the plunger also resists expansion of the thermally expansible member.

5. A thermostatic valve as per claim 3, in Which the thermally expansible member supports the weight of the plunger and portions of the Weights of the lever and the valve member, so that the said weights resist ex pension ofthe thermally expan'sible memben 6. A thermostatic valve as per claim 3, in combination with stop means mounted on the casing and associated with the plunger for limiting the movement of the plunger in one direction, the stop means being adjustable in position with respect to the casinglongitudinally ofthe plunger. 4

7. A thermostatic. valve comprising a housing having `an inlet andan outlet, and

having a valve seat associatedvvith the inlet,r`

alever pivoted'vvithin lthe housing and ex-V tending across the axis of thevalvef seat, a valve stemactuated by the lever and 'adapted to close the inlet when the lever moves in.

one direction; afplunger extending slidably into the casingand having its inner end cngaging the lever at a greater distance than.

the valve stem from the pivot of the lever; and a thermally expansible memfbersup-I ported exteriorly yof the housing and associated with theouter end of the lever.,.the thermally expansible .member being arrangedso that expansion of the said member moves theplungervinvvardly ofthecasyinfr A ing the lever to move inthe" the sliding movement ffthefplunger inboth directions. v E 4 9. A thermostatic .valve asperclaim 7, in combination Withfa stop ,member exiteriorof the housing and through which the plunger extends, the stopmemher beingslidableparr; allel-to the axis of theplunger Withfrespefct to thehousing, and meaiis. forlatching the V stop member against sliding'onthe housing; the stop member and the plungerhaving interengageable portions disposed for limiting the sliding movement of the plungerin both directions; and threaded means independent of the latchingmeans and interposed lbetfvveen the stop member and the housing for prevent ing the stop member from sliding in one direction with respect to the housing. l

l 10. A thermostatic lvalve comprising an inverted` l.shaped housing. having an inletin the top of its horizontal portion and an outlet at the bottom oi its stem, the housing also having a valve seat associated with the inlet; a lever pivotally mounted Within the horizon tal portion ofk the housing on a horizontal axis and extending across the axis of the valve seat; a valve stem carried by the lever and adapted to engage the valve seat; a plunger extending slidably upward into vthe said horizontal portion of the housing and having its upper end engaging the bottom of the lever; a thermally expansib-le member disposed below the plunger and supporting the 4 vin'aansen plunger, :and supporting means for .support- Aingggftlie ysaid :member from the housing.

1.11: A ythermestat-ic valve `as per claim 10, Ain which-lthe said supportingmeanscomprise 5 an `arm `'fast upon :thehousingfunderhanging fthe horizontal portion lof :thelhousing below .the ythermally expansible member.

,A ,thermostatlic valve as :per claim 110, lincomloina'tion with a stopmemberfspported 110 @by the horizontal I,portion .of :the `housing,

v through whichstop member the plunger extends; `vthe vplunger :having Itwospaoed shoulders each disposed `for engaging the stop Amember -to `limit the movement `of the yplun- ,gerinoppositedirections. y

13. Athermostatie valve as =per claim 9, in combination with an angle-shaped stop bracket ycomprising a vertical arm fastened to the free endof .the horizontal `,portion fof' `the housing `and a 'horizontal .arm through which the plungerfextends, `the yplunger 'havingspaced shoulders respectively adapted to engage the upper .and lower faces .o' the said horizontal arm for respectively limit- 125.; ing the downward and upward sliding :of

the plunger. c f' 14. A. ythermostatic valve lcomprising a housing havingan upper `inlet,.a yvalve seatas- -sociated with the -inlet-and a vlower outlet; a "3 0.- lever disposedwithir'i the Vhousin'g and piv#4 oted atlone end to the housing, the'leverl extending .across the axis of the valve seat; a plunger lextending upwardly into .the hous- :ing land lhaving its upper end engaging the Ilever near the other `end o the `lever to sup-v ,port the' lever; a valve .closure member sup vported'hy-a'medial rtionof the lever and' adapted 'to seat .ont ey valve seat; and thermostatir.: means supported lexteriorly of the` .40 housing and supporting the plunger; the housing having a movable portion in one side for a'ording access to thesaid lever-and `closure member. Y 4

15. A thermostatie valve comprising an in verted :L-shaped housing-having an inlet in the ytop of its horizontal portion and an youtv let .at the bottom of its shank, the housing also having a valve seat associated with the f inlet; a lever pivotally mounted within the horizontal portion of the housing on a horizontal axis and extending across the axis of the valve seat; a valve stem carried by the lever and adapted to engage the valve seat; a .plunger extending slidably upward into .the said horizontal .portion vof the housing and having its upper end engaging `the bottom of the lever; an arm extending from the housing below the plunger, a screw threaded np- -wardiy through the said arm in alinement G0 with Vthe plunger, and thermally expansible means interposed between the upper end of the screw and the lower end of the plunger. .Signed at Macomb, Illinois, September 29th, 1928. v 05' JACOB T. LANDGRAF. 

